My post on why I’m an optimist made it onto this month’s Carnival of the Godless, a biweekly roundup of blog posts and articles related to atheism. I’m #2 on the list, and just above some entries on Greta Christina’s blog, which if you’re not reading you should be.
I first encountered Greta Christina’s blog via datan0de. joreth did likewise, and from her blog found the Carnival of the Godless. She sent me the link, I thought it was teh awesome, and now they’ve linked to something I wrote. Small world, eh?
Go you! The essay is brilliant, and certainly deserving of attention.
Go you! The essay is brilliant, and certainly deserving of attention.
I missed the original post, so I’m glad you brought it to our attention again. It’s excellent.
Also, thanks for the mention of “Carnival of the Godless.” I was unaware of it and will follow it from now on.
Perhaps you are unaware of “Tangled Bank” a blog carnival of science articles.
The index is here: http://tangledbank.net/
Finally, a compliment to your writing skills. Again.
Wow, cool link! Thanks!
I missed the original post, so I’m glad you brought it to our attention again. It’s excellent.
Also, thanks for the mention of “Carnival of the Godless.” I was unaware of it and will follow it from now on.
Perhaps you are unaware of “Tangled Bank” a blog carnival of science articles.
The index is here: http://tangledbank.net/
Finally, a compliment to your writing skills. Again.
I remember, long time ago, reading Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God and having much the same response; what kind of god would use fear to keep his minions in line? Would such a god be worthy of respect?
Edwards was such a fun-loving guy. We read Sinners as well as some other Puritan writings back in high school, and I was taken by how utterly joyless their lives seem to have been. Given how hard life was back then, I would’ve expected people to turn to religion for a measure of happiness, rather than to be oppressed even further.
Then again, they probably did get a twisted pleasure out of the idea of being part of the minority that wasn’t going to burn in Hell, a tradition that continues to this day.
Many religious traditions, including many Protestant Christian denominations, are inherently distrustful of and suspicious of happiness. Personal happiness simply isn’t valued; it’s seen as a distraction (at best) or as giving in to temptations of The World (at worst). Remember, the goal is to get through a confusing and frightening life as efficiently as possible because the only thing that matters is what happens once you die. Personal happiness is a distraction, something that takes your eye off the ball–the ball being what happens to you when you go down for your dirt nap.
I remember, long time ago, reading Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God and having much the same response; what kind of god would use fear to keep his minions in line? Would such a god be worthy of respect?
Wow, cool link! Thanks!
Greta Christina is addictive reading. Best not operate a car or heavy machinery or read within eight hours of a deadline of any sort…
Greta Christina is addictive reading. Best not operate a car or heavy machinery or read within eight hours of a deadline of any sort…
Edwards was such a fun-loving guy. We read Sinners as well as some other Puritan writings back in high school, and I was taken by how utterly joyless their lives seem to have been. Given how hard life was back then, I would’ve expected people to turn to religion for a measure of happiness, rather than to be oppressed even further.
Then again, they probably did get a twisted pleasure out of the idea of being part of the minority that wasn’t going to burn in Hell, a tradition that continues to this day.
Many religious traditions, including many Protestant Christian denominations, are inherently distrustful of and suspicious of happiness. Personal happiness simply isn’t valued; it’s seen as a distraction (at best) or as giving in to temptations of The World (at worst). Remember, the goal is to get through a confusing and frightening life as efficiently as possible because the only thing that matters is what happens once you die. Personal happiness is a distraction, something that takes your eye off the ball–the ball being what happens to you when you go down for your dirt nap.